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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to go on days out in the UK anymore ?

377 replies

Heswall · 08/04/2012 16:39

I have spent half the day mumsnetting from my phone because we have been bored rigid on a "day out" at a local national trust event.
The egg hunt clues were crap or missing, I ended up offering lunch at Frankie and Benny's if we could get the hell out of there and warm up.
I am sick of having to buy tons of layers of warm clothing that get taken off and then lost - if anyone finds an age 11-12 Joules Aire bodywarmer can I have it back please ? - I am sick of paying £60 in petrol and entrance fees for an hours entertainment at best.
For the price of Alton Towers I can fly two people to Spain, I feel I have done every farm, theme park, old house in the half of the country I live in.
AIBU to stay shove the staycation and save up for warm sunny weather and pastures new instead ?

OP posts:
Birdylade · 08/04/2012 18:58

YANBU, this is the story of our Summer pretty much every year, shame I have such a short memory so by the time the next 'Summer' arrives I've forgotten ans so we do the whole fucking wet-cold-expensive staycation all over again [bugrin]

FashionEaster · 08/04/2012 19:05

Angelico, can you tell me more about your 'cheapy' hols abroad?

marriedinwhite · 08/04/2012 19:05

Someone upthread mentioned crealy Park. Yes, we did that on holiday one year - I think we were in Devon. Yes, that was the worst day out I have ever experienced and the biggest rip off. But...........

It's always the unplanned days that are the best and I shall never forget

the impromptu trip to Legoland when the dc were tiny and dh said come on let's do it for mother's day.

Taking ds to see the first Harry Potter film - that was mother's day too to think of it and taking him for tea in Pizza Hut afterwards and finding the Ice-cream station.

Going to Dairy World in Cornwall when it was raining and the sun came out and there was a rainbow.

A day out in Brighton after a row when ds was a toddler (just) and we had had the most enormous row and having supper and booking into a hotel because we shared half a bottle of wine and we were off hanky panky for medical reasons but we conceived dd who was born at term + 51 weeks after ds 2 died shortly after birth. That was our miracle day out.

A brilliant day in the non sunshine today at Wisley with DH.

But there have been some crap ones too not least the rip off that Warwick Castle was.

Make the most of points and two for ones and it's great and when it's raining the queues at the theme parks are much much shorter.

marriedinwhite · 08/04/2012 19:07

PS: They are 17 and 13 now. But I still lined the Easter eggs up on the stairs this morning and it was heart warming to see them in pants and jim jams on the sofa at 9ish sharing out the booty. Can't describe how magical that felt and how it took me back.

Toeuffeta · 08/04/2012 19:07

It depends where. Greenwich Park on a sunny day with games, bikes and a football, and picnic natch, is hard to beat. Park outside the park and it costs nada.

Animal parks usually go down well. Not keen on NT - we have been to a few specialist bat trails and Hallowe'en events that were ok, but very average.

A day at the South Bank in good weather is fun, watching the street artists etc.

I even had a good day out recently at the Nat Hist museum - avoided holidays, went just with the interested child, left the other at home with DH, we went for opening time, stayed only an hour and a half and most importantly had a snack in the cafe, the cost of which was OK.

Beach on a sunny day, late afternoon summer time ( weekend but not hols )also hard to beat.

TheLightPassenger · 08/04/2012 19:09

yabu - the average NT property isn't a good excursion for kids, as THC as described, you have to be selective about what you shell out tens of pounds for.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 08/04/2012 19:11

We hardly ever go inside any of the NT properties I must admit, we just like wandering round the grounds, the DCs love the gardens with all different sections, topiaries, rivers, fountains, statues whatever. I love walled gardens and I do like knowing the history of the places but am not all that fussed about seeing inside. We rarely stay more than a couple of hours though, so it wouldn't be good value on the basis of daily fees, but is great on a membership. I like the fact that they aren't full of "added value" playgrounds, little trains, people dressed up doing demonstrations of how to make stuff, petting zoos etc.

I agree that in far too many places you are paying a fortune for all this crap when all you want to do is look at the fantastic natural beauty and maybe have a cup of tea (Alum Bay, Cheddar Gorge etc).

But you can have a good day out without any of this, walks on the beach, crazy golf, local parks, walks in the woods, country parks (although added value is creeping into those as well round here).

PuppyMonkey · 08/04/2012 19:14

It's not days out in the UK as much as days out on aBank Holiday weekend. Why on earth would you?

exoticfruits · 08/04/2012 19:16

I wouldn't go out on a Bank Holiday, but apart from that you can easily go out without it costing anything.

Bennifer · 08/04/2012 19:16

Honestly, you live in one of the world's most beautiful countries, with one of the most interesting histories, and you're bored. You know what they say about bored people

kumquatsarethelonelyfruit · 08/04/2012 19:18

I like being a member of the NT as it means we can have a 'free' day out when we are skint (bring own picnic etc). I do think that the cafe prices are scandalous and the cake is not worth the money. The NT is best in term time - we try to avoid in in school holidays (and especially bank holidays) as it becomes a posh free for all rather than a tranquil haven.

EmilyPollifaxInnocentTourist · 08/04/2012 19:19

We went to the Glasgow Science Centre which is always brilliant.

We've never quite matched the excitement of our first visit when we got to watch the police divers drag a body out of the Clyde. You have no idea how often my kids bring this up. Grin

kumquatsarethelonelyfruit · 08/04/2012 19:19

BTW, a fun game to play at NT properties is parent or grandparent? Lots of aging middle class types with small kids and it is virtually impossible to tell if they are the grandparent/parent.

EmilyPollifaxInnocentTourist · 08/04/2012 19:20

Also, Historic Scotland passes are well worth the price; especially of you pay by monthly direct debit.

BBQJuly · 08/04/2012 19:31

Stop visiting tourist destinations and find some activities you actually like :)

inchoccyheaven · 08/04/2012 19:37

Weather and Heswell did you go to the Cornwall or Devon crealy? We are on hols in Cornwall at mo and was thinking of going to Crealy but not if it is going to be really crap.

Original poster
Heswall · 08/04/2012 19:41

I think it was the Cornwall one but we stopped off in Devon the way down so I might be wrong.

OP posts:
Original poster
Heswall · 08/04/2012 19:42

We are going to a food festival tomorrow, nothing not to like there :-)

OP posts:
LeeCoakley · 08/04/2012 19:44

Warwick Castle is a classic example of what I was saying earlier. Why isn't it just a castle any more? Why does it have to be an all-dancing all singing 'attraction'? The price is astronomical (like all the Tussaud's stuff) and is on the American circuit so you think it's going to be something special albeit over the top. IT ISN'T. IT'S JUST A CASTLE. Remember that and you won't be disappointed. Whereas if you think it's going to be a theme park - you WILL be disappointed. Ditto Land's End, Alum Bay, Clovelly and all the other spoilt places. I haven't been to Cheddar Gorge since the 60s and imagine that is expensive and 'themed' now instead of 2 caves with some amazing drips. Sad

fuzzpig · 08/04/2012 19:48

Sad to read that about Warwick castle. I LOVE castles... It's the Famous Five fan in me! Ruined ones are the best. I really look forward to taking my DCs to explore some.

joanofarchitrave · 08/04/2012 19:48

would agree with the 'do stuff you like' proposition

the ILs have given me NT membership for the last 3 years and it's the best birthday present ever but i never go for the organised stuff tbh. your own egg hunt in the park is always going to be better than one with loads of other thugs children diving for the booty.

Am a bit mystified re the 'paying to park in the countryside' bit. Did that poster mean national trust parking? You may have to look a bit but there is nearly always somewhere to park free if you're prepared to walk a few minutes.

Original poster
Heswall · 08/04/2012 19:49

Cheddar Girge came with head phones and a story thing to listen to about the history so was fine, wookey hole scared the life out if the DC's and me

OP posts:
ssd · 08/04/2012 19:53

Emily Grin my kids would love that!!

op, YANBU, rip off days out, we've done them all

worst one was sea life centre in Edinburgh, drove for hours and then zipped through it in less than an hour

the cafes in these places are always shite too

LeQueen · 08/04/2012 19:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 08/04/2012 19:57

We love the Glasgow Science Centre too, great for a wet day, we're English and go during Scottish term time (late Aug) so it is never too busy, although never seen any body dredging!